Clothes-drier



3 t e e h s w e e h s 4 m E I u m A BE Hm J .L P a 0 M 0 m Patented Jul 10,1894.

m5 NORRIS PEYEHS co. nuomumm WASHINGTON, u. c.

(No Model.)

F. J. BAILEY.

CLOTHES DRIER. I

Patented July 10, 1894.

4 sheets-sheet 4.

' UNITED STATES PATE T O'FFIcE.

. with clothes and mayv then be movedout FRANK .I. BAILEY, OF BRATTLEBOROUGH, VERMONT, ASSIGNOB TO L VI n.

v FULLER, or SAME PLACE. v

CLOTHES-DRIER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 522,576, dated July, 10, 1894,

Application filed May 17, 1 8 93.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK J. BAILEY, of Brattleborough, in the county of Windham. and State of Vermont, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clothes-- States, filed September 22, 1892, and renewed.

November 6, 1893, Serial No. 490,170.

The clothes drier to which the presentinvention relates is a clothes drier comprising asupporting frame which is adapted to be secured permanently on the exterior of the wall of a building and adjacent to a window or door in the wall, and a rotary. clothes reel suspended from and rotatively supported by said supporting frame, said reel having a plurality of radial arms, each arm carrying a bar sliding longitudinally thereupon, and each bar being provided with article-holding lines, whereby each barin turn may be moved in through the window-or door and its line laden through the window or door. The principal advantage of such a clothes drier, when applied to a wall in connection with a window therein, is that it can be used in tenement and apartment houses where there is no yard space, without necessitating the use of the roof and the attendant climbing of stairs;

and when applied to a doorway, the clothes can'be hung upon the drier within the house, thus obviating the necessity of carrying the clothes from the tubs to the lines, an advantage which is especially conspicuous when snowis on the ground. The present improvements are applied to such a clothes drier, and consist in the improved details of construction hereinafter described and claimed.

The present improvements are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure l, is ahorizontal section through a portion of a wall and awindow opening therein andlooking down upon the improved clothes drier secured to the wall. In this figure the stay-rod of the supporting-frame is not shown. Fig. 2, is a vertical section through a portion of the wall and a window Serial No. 474,574. (No model.)

opening, showing the clothes reel in side elevation. In this figure only two radial arms of the reel and the sliding bars carried thereby are shown, one'of the horizontal bars of the supportingframeis removed, and the bearingplate of the removed baris'shown in vertical section. Fig. 8, is a vertical section through one end of one of the horizontal bars of the supporting frame and a portion of a window or door frame, showing the preferred fastener. Fig. 4, is a detail plan view of the attaching screw shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5, is a modification of the fastener shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 6, is

a vertical section of the hub of the reel, illustrating the connection between the supporting frame and the reel. Fig. 7, is a side View and Fig. 8, a plan view of the outer end of one of the horizontal bars of the supporting frame. Fig. 9, is a side viewand Fig. 10, a plan view of the outer end of the'other horizontal bar of- -the supporting frame. Fig. 11 is a perspective View of the hub of the reel looking at the under side thereof. Fig. 12, is a vertical section of the outer end of one of the radial arms and of the sliding bar carried thereby. Fig. 13,

is a plan view of the outer end of one of the metal brackets on the outer ends of the radial arms. Fig. 14, is a perspective view of one of the sliding bars detached, showing the So I manner of attaching a clothes linevthereto. Fig. 15, is a bottom view of the inner end of oneof the sliding bars.- Fig. 16, is a front view of a portion of one of.the sliding bars.

A, is a portion of the wall of a building, and B, a portion of an ordinary window frame set therein.

' As shown in the drawings, the supportingframe of the clothes drier is securedrtothe wall by being fastened to the window frame B. The supporting-frame comprises three principal parts, namely, two horizontal wooden side bars 0, D, and a metallic stay-rod E. At their inner ends the two side bars .0,'D, are attached to the window frame, and at their outer ends they are adjustably connected together so that they can be connected to windows of different widths. The'stay-rod E, is connected at its inner and upper end to the window-frame and at its lower outer end to I00 the side bars at the point where theyare joined together. The stay-rod is extensible being capable of longitudinal adjustment so as to be connected with windows of varying heights and widths.

The preferred fastener for fastening each of the side bars 0, D, to the window frame B is illustrated in detail in Figs. 3, and 4. A shank or, having a screw-threaded point and an eyed head I) is screwed horizontally into the side of the window-frame just above the meeting rails of the window sashes. The inner end of the side bar 0 (or D, as the case may be) is then rested upon the eyed head I) of the screw and abutting against the windowframe. A shank 0, having a head at one end and bolt screw-threads at the other, is then passed vertically upward through the eyed head I) of the shank a and through an aperture in bar 0, and is held in place by a nut d. The side bars are thus readily and securely attached to the sides of the window-frame just above the meeting rails of the window sashes, by fasteners each of which comprises a horizontally-extending shank which enters the window-frame and a second shank extending vertically and at right-angles to the first shank and which passes through the horizontal bar. A modification of the fastener is illustrated in Fig. 5, wherein the screw-shank a entering the window-frame, and the bolt-shank a passing through the bar, are made in one piece of metal, the bolt-shank itself serving as a handle for turning the screw-shank. This modified fastener is equally as efiicient as the preferred construction shown in Figs. 3, and 4, except that it cannot be used Where the window-frame is narrow and is set into the wall.

The means for adj ustably connecting the outer ends of the side bars 0, D, together are shown in detail in Figs. 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10. To the outer end of the bar 0, on the inner face thereof, there is attached (see Figs. 7, and 8) by bolts 6 e an attaching metal plate f which carries an integral horizontally-and-laterallyextending circular plate F. Strengthening ribs g g assist in uniting the plate F, and attaching plate f. This plate F is flat on its upper surface and has a central aperture h and an eccentric aperture t'. The other side bar D (see Figs. 9, and 10) has connected with it by bolts e e a similar metal attaching plate f which carries an integral horizontally-andlaterally-extending cap-plate G, provided with strengthening ribs 9' g beneath and strengthening ribs j j above. The lower face of the cap-plate G is flat so as to rest upon the flat upper face of the plate F. The capplate G has on its upper face and at the center a projecting boss 7c having a polygonal recess Z. The cap-plate has also a central aperture m (communicating with said recess Z) and a concentric slot n at the same distance from the center as is the aperture '5 of plate F. The two plates F and G are connected together by a pivot-pin or kingbolt H (see Fig. 6) which extends through the two central apertures h and m, and which is held in place by a polygonal nut 0 which seats non rotatively in the polygonal recess Z. When the plates F G of the two side bars (3 D are thus united, the latter can turn on the pivot-pin or king-bolt so that their inner ends can be spread apart or brought together to any desired extent to enable them to fit any window. When the bars 0 D have been thus placed in position, they can be locked together if desired by means of suitable locking provisions such as a locking and adj usting bolt 19 (see Fig. 6) passing through the eccentric aperture 1 in plate F and slot at in cap-plate G, in connection with a nut q.

The extensible stay-rod E is composed of two metal rods I J, screw-threaded in opposite directions at their adjacent ends, and an intermediate turn-buckle K, whereby the stay-rod may be lengthened or shortened as desired to accommodate it to windows of different heights and widths. The upper end of the upper rod I, is bolted by bolt 0' to the window-frame (see Fig. 2), and the lower end of the lower rod J, has an eye .9 which fits over the upper end of the king-bolt or pivotpin H and is fastened thereto by a lock-nut 23 (see Fig. 3). This lock-nut t not only secures the stay-rod to the bars 0 D, but also acts as a lock-nut to prevent the accidental turning of the pivot-pin or king-bolt H. The supporting frame of the clothes drier is thus securely fastened to the windowframe or other part of the wall, and the side bars 0 D are maintained in horizontal position.

The rotary reel which is suspended from the supporting-frame comprises, as in my aforesaid application, Serial No. 490,170, a central hub L, a plurality of wooden radial arms M M secured at their inner ends to said hub, and a plurality of suspended wooden sliding bars N N mounted and sliding upon said arms M M respectively. The central hub L of the reel is now differently constructed. It is shown best in Figs. 6, and 11. It is composed of a single hollow metal casting. The upper edge of the hub constitutes a lower bearingplate co-operating with the under side of the plate F, which constitutes an upper non-rotating bearing plate. On its under side the bearing-plate F has a depending circular flange a coned on its inner side, and within this seats a flange 4) extending upwardly from the hub and coned on its exterior to fit within the depending flange a. The shoulder to formed by the flange c at the upper end of the hub seats against the lower edge of the depending flange a. The coned inner face of the flange a constitutes an upper journal bearing for the hub, and the shoulder to of the hub and the co-operating lower edge of flange it constitute bearin g faces to prevent the rocking or tilting of the hub. Immediately below its upper edge the hub has a horizontally-projecting peripheral flan ge 0, provided with apertures w w the purpose of which will presently appear. At its lower end the hub has a horizontal plate P, provided with depending-flanges y y which divide the plate into six sections Q Q for receiving the radial arms M M of which there are six. Each section Q of plate P has a bolt aperture 2. Each radial arm M is secured to the hub by having its inner end seated against the under side of.

plate P'within one of the sections Q and between two of the flanges y y (which prevent lateral movement to the radial arm), and it is bolted in place by a bolt R, extending through aperture 2. Beneath the plate P, the hub has acentral depending boss S, with a central aperture through which passes the pivot-pin or king-bolt H.

. lower bearing for the hub.

To each radial .ar'm M, at the outer end thereof, there is attached an upwardly-andoutwardly-extending metal bracket U, having an eye 20 (see Fig. 12) in its upper end, and the brackets U of all of the radial arms are connected by a peripheral line V (preferably of wire) which extends through the eyes 20 of the several brackets, as shown in Fig. 1, and all as in my aforesaid application Serial No. 490,170. Also, as in said application, a stay-rod W connects the outer end of each radial arm with the hub, each stay-rod W havinga hook 21 at its inner end which books into one of the apertureswin the flange O,'ot the hub (see Fig. 6). In order that the peripheral line V, may be of service to maintain the radial arms at equal distances, it is fastened to each of the eyes-2O of the brackets U by a wire 22, as shown most clearly in Fig. 13. l

' Each of the sliding bars N, of which there is one for each radial arm M, is connected to and suspended from its radial arm by means substantially the same as in my said application Serial No. 490,170. A guiding and supporting metallic strap or loop Xis secured so as to depend from the outer end of each radial arm. This strapXis attached to the radial arm by a bolt 23, and nut 24, which also serve to secure the bracket Uand stay-rod W to the radialarm. The corresponding sliding bar N is located beneath its radial arm M, and slides within and rests upon the portion of the strap X depending below the radial arm, as shown most clearly in Fig. 12. Near the inner end of each sliding bar N, there is attached thereto an upwardly-extending guiding and supporting metallic strap or loop Y (see Fig. 6), which is secured to bar N by bolt 25, and nut 26, and which embraces and slides along-the corresponding radial arm M. The onlyv difference between the connect-' ing means of the arms M and N of the pres- This space has been found The inner endsof the radial arms M abut against this boss S.

ent case and those of said application Serial No. 490,170, is that the strips X, and Y, are of sufficient length to leave a space 27 (see Fig. 6) between each arm M and its bar N. to be an important feature, since the reel is exposed to the weather, and the radial arlns and sliding bars being made of wood are liable to swell and bind together in wet Weather if in contact with each other. The presence of the spaces 27 permits the free sliding of the bars at all .times. Also, in case of snow or ice lodging between the arms and bars, the play afforded by this space permits the bars to be agitated so as to break off and detach any ice or snow.

Each sliding bar N carries by itself and independently of the other parts of the reel longitudinally-extending article-holding lines, as in said application, Serial No. 490,170, but improvements have been introduced in the manner of securing the lines, which are shown in detail in Figs. 14, 15, and 16. Each bar carries at its outer end'a line-spacing-andholding wooden cross-head 28, extending horizontally and at right-angles to the bar N.

This cross-head 28, is secured at its center to bar N by bolt 29, and nut 30 (see Fig. 12). The bar N is rabbeted at its end to receive the cross-head (as is also thearm M at 31, see Fig. 12) which is of uniform size throughout. The line-holders consistof a'plurality' of pairs of wooden pegs b, b, extending upwardly from the top face of the cross-head 28, a groove (1' at the extreme rear end of the bar N (see Fig. 6), and a wooden tally through and on either side of the bar near its rear end so as to furnish projections e e on opposite sides of the bar. The wooden pegs .b', b, of each pair (constituting one holder) incline away from each other (see Fig. 16) being nearlyin contact at their lower ends and spreading thence apart, so that a wedge-shaped opening is provided between them for the insertion clothes-line.

The lineZ employed is an ordinary clothesline, and only one line is required for each sliding bar. The lines need not be sold with the clothes reel, since any ordinary clothesline can be attached to the bar.

The line Zis attached in thefollowing manner (see Fig. 14):A knot is tied in one end of the line and the line close to the knot is squeezedbetween the pair 1, of the pegs b on one side of the cross-head nearest the'bar N. The line is carried longitudinally over the projection e; thence under the bar N (see Fig. 15); thence over projection 6 thence to the pair 2 of pegs on the opposite side of the cross-head nearest the bar, between which the line is squeezed; thence to intermediate pair 3: of pegs, between which the line is squeezed; thence over projection e"; thence under bar N; thence over projection-e,- thence to the intermediate pair 4 of pegs, between which itis squeezed; thence to the outer pair 5 pin extending horizonof the pegs at one end of the cross-head between which it is squeezed; thence around groove (1 in the end of the bar; and thence to the outer pair 6 of the pegs on the opposite end of the cross-head between which the line is squeezed and around which the line is given an additional twist to firmly secure the end thereof. The cross-heads can be lengthened and more than six holders thereupon can be employed if a larger line-holding capacity is desired. The course which the line follows is indicated by arrows in Figs. 14., and 15.

By thus attaching the clothes-lines, several important advantages result. The different longitudinally-extending sections of the line are properly spaced so that each can hold articles to be dried; the line can be easily and readily removed after each use of the drier so as not to be subjected to the deteriorating efiect of the weather; ordinary clothes-pins can be used for attaching the clothes to the line (the peripheral line V being maintained by the brackets U so far above the lines Z that it does not interfere with clothes-pins on the lines Z); and a full-length sheet can be attached to the line without any folding thereof except the longitudinal fold which is given to it when hung upon an ordinary clothes-line. As the reels are ordinarily constructed, the length of the line Z from the holder 5 around the holder (1 at the inner end of bar N to holder 6 is about eight feet, whereas the length of a sheet is about seven feet. In attaching such a sheet to the line, the end of the clothes-line is detached from the holder 6, and the length of the line from holder 5 to holder 6 is brought within the room. The sheet is then placed upon the line,

I and the line with the sheet attached is then placed and fastened in position, the sheet also passing around the inner end of the bar N. The capability of thus hanging a fulllength sheet upon the clothes-line is due not only to the manner of attaching the clothesline but also to the facts that each sliding bar is suspended from its radial arm so that there is nothing in the way of a sheet suspended therefrom, and that the inner end of the sliding bar is wholly unobstructed by any part of the drier so that the line with the sheet upon it can be freely passed therearound.

The manner of using the drier as a whole is similar to that of using the drier shown in my said application Serial No. 490,170. A sliding bar opposite the window opening is slid through the window within the room where the washing is being done, as shown in Figs. 1, and 2. Its lines are then filled with articles of clothing, and it is then slid out of the window. The reel is turned until the next sliding bar is in front of the window, and it is likewise slid into the room, filled, and slid out. In this manner, each of the sliding bars is filled. After all of the sliding bars are filled, articles may be hung upon the peripheral line V. The capacity of the drier is large. The entire construction of the reel is strong, simple, efficient, inexpensive, and durable.

Since the lines extend longitudinally along the bars, there is no danger of the clothes on thellines being blown by the wind against the wall of the building.

The drierhas been illustrated and described as used in connection with a window. When so used the drier should be so located (as shown) that the sliding bars are in a plane sufiiciently below the meeting rails of the window sashes so that the clothes pins upon the lines Z Z will pass beneath the window sashes when the lower sash is fully raised.

When applied to a doorway, the entire drier is elevated so that the sliding bars with clothes-pins attached pass freely beneath the top of the door-frame in sliding through the doorway. The line can then be easily reached, and the drier does not interfere with the ordinary use of the doorway.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a clothes-drier, a rotary clothes-reel, and an adjustable supporting frame therefor comprising two supporting bars adapted to be fixed to a wall at their inner ends on the opposite sides of a window or door opening in said wall and pivotally connected together at their outer ends whereby said frame may be adjusted to wall openings of different widths, said rotary clothes reel being supported at the outer end of said frame, in combination with a single king-bolt which constitutes the axis of the rotary clothes reel and the pivot-pin for the outer ends of said supporting bars, substantially as set forth.

2. In a clothes-drier, a rotary clothes-reel, and an adjustable supporting frame therefor comprising two supporting bars adapted to be fixed to a wall at their inner ends on the opposite sides of a window or door opening in said wall and pivotally connected together at their outer ends whereby said frame may be adjusted to wall openings of diiferent widths, said rotary clothes-reel being suspended from the outer end of said frame, in combination with an extensible stayrod adapted to be attached at its upper end to the wall above the opening therein and at its lower end to the outer end of said frame, and a single king-bolt which constitutes the axis of the rotary clothes reel, the pivot-pin for the outer ends of the supporting bars, and the attachment for the lower end of said stay-rod, substantially as set forth.

3. An adjustable supporting-frame for a clothes-drier comprising in combination two supporting bars adapted to be fixed at their inner ends and pivoted together at their outer ends, and provisions carried by said bars respectively for locking them together in their different positions, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination of the two bars 0 and D of the supporting-frame of a clothes-drier, one of said bars having the laterally-extending plate F having a flat upper face and a central aperture, and the other of said bars havinga laterally-extending plate G havinga flat lower face and a central aperture, said two plates above the other, a

lying one above the other with their flat faces together, and a pivot-pin or king-bolt passing through said central apertures, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination of the two bars 0 and D of the supporting-frame of a clothes drier, one of said bars having a laterally-extending plate F with a central aperture h and an eccentric aperture 2', the other of said'bars having a laterally-extending plate G with a central'aperture m and a slot 71, said plates lying one king-bolt or pivot-pin extending through said apertures hand m, and a locking and adjusting bolt extending through gailhaperture 1' and slot n, substantially as set ti. The two supporting bars of a clothesdr1er having connecting plates lying one above the other with central apertures in each and a central polygonal recess in one, in combination with a stay-rod having an eye at one end, a pivot-pin or king-bolt extending through said apertures, recess and eye, a polygonal nut for said pivot-pin or king-bolt located in said polygonal recess and on one side of the eyed end of said stay-rod, and a locknut for said pivot-pin or king-bolt on the opposite side of the eyed end substantially as set forth.

7..The hollow rotary metallic hub of a of said stay-rod,

clothes reel having radial arms and supporting stay-rods therefor, comprising in one piece of metal the upper flange 0 having apertures w for the attachment of the stay-rods, the lower horizontal plate P with depending flanges y dividing said plate into sectionsQ for receiving-the ends of the radial arms of the reel,

the plate P having at each of said sections Q bolt-holes for the attachment of the radial arms, and a hollow boss S against which the inner ends of said radial arms abut and through which extends the bolt upon which the hub turns, substantially as set forth.

8. The non-rotating bearing-plate F, and the non-rotating step-plate T, in combination with the hollow depending rotating metallic hub located betweensaid plates F and T, and the king-bolt extending upwardly through said step-plate, hollow hub, and plate F, and supported in place above said plate F, the head of said king-bolt being below said plate T, substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANK J. BAILEY.

Witnesses:

GEORGE E. Hrrr, FRANK G. KETOHUM.

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